Improvement in elevator-hatchways



, C. F. MURD-OCK 8v F. G. BEACH.

ElQvator-Hatohway.

Patented Dec. 2,1879.

AZZEJZ Lk. JAM/4&4 /W g I UNrTED STATES PATENT 'Q i CHARLES F. MURDOCKAND FRANKLIN G. BEACH, DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

\ IMPROVEMENT IN ELEVATOR-HATCHWAYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222, [98, datedDecember 2, 1879; application filed J To all 'whom it'may concern:

- tor-Hatchways, of which the following is a specification.

The nature ofour invention relates to new and novel improvements in theconstruction and operation of elevator-hatchway closers; andthe'lnvention consists in the peculiarconstruction of the variousdetails and their several combinations, as more fully hereinafterdescribed.

Figure]. is a perspective, in sect-ion, being broken off at top andbottom, showing the elevator-platform, the first floor of the buildingabove the cellar. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, showing the constructionand operation of the counter-balance, which may be employed upon anyfloor as a modification of the counterbalance shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isan elevation of the reverse side shown in Fig. 1 and in section on theline 40 w in Fig. 4. Fi 4 is a top plan of a section of the first floor,showing the closers in place when not open for the passage of theelevator.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Arepresents the vertical ways; B, the elevator, and G the floor,

and all of the usual construction, except as hereinafter deseribedn D Dare a pair of doors or hatchway-closers,

each one of which is designedto cover or close one-quarter the openingthrough the floor for the passage of the elevator. It will be noticed inFig. 4 that when closed down upon such opening the doors not only fitthe opening, but at adjoining sides are close together, to the exclusionof currents of air. The object in view ,in dividing these doors as de-.

scribed is to avoid the necessity of cutting away the slides a on theinner faces ot the ways in order to let the doors assume a verticalposition, as shown in Fig. 3, wherein n represents such portion of theslide cut away and attached to the under side of the door E, in order tolet the latter, when in vertical position, stand out of the way of thepassage of the elevator, and at the same time present a continuous slideor guide. In order to avoid this difficulty we hinge each of the doors DApril 1, 1879.

to the floor by means of hinges F, so constructed, as shown in Fig. 4,as to allow each of the doors, when slightly raised from their seat inthe floor, to have a lateral play outwardly from the center.

A notch, b, is cut in each of the doorscoincident with the cam-plate c,which is secured to the floor, the parts being so arrangedthat as thedoors are raised from their seat in the 'fioor the cam-plates enteringsaid notches will force each door laterally outward from the ways A asufficient distance to pass, when in vertical position, the slides ofguides at and drop into a recess, d, in the vertical ways, allowing theelevator to pass freely, and avoiding the necessity of cutting theguides at as the doors are dropped to assume their normal position ashatch way-closers. The cam-plates, engaging with the notches abovedescribed, force the inner edges of the two doors toward each otheruntil they meet.

G is a counterbalance-weight, pivoted at c to the side of one of theways A, or to any other convenient point, and is provided with asegmental grooved end, f. A cord or rope is secured to thiscounter-balance, which leads up through the floor by the side of theway, This rope It has its opposite end attached to the segment 70, whichis attached rigidly to the shaft Z, which is journaled through the wayA. To this shaft is also secured the grooved segmental spider m, towhich the rope n is secured, its opposite end being secured to one ofthe doors D. Upon the other end of this shaft 5 there is also secured asimilar grooved segmental spider, p, to which a rope, o, is secured,with its opposite end secured to the other door D. These two spiders arerigidly attached to the shaft coincident with each other, so that theywill act simultaneously together. The spider p is prolonged, as shown inFig. 1, such prolongation being a curved arm,

If preferred, although we do not consider it desirable, the rope h andthe counter-balance G may be dispensed with, as shown, and saidcounter-balance may be attached to the arm 1', as shown in Fig. 2.

A small friction-wheel, s, is secured to the platform of the elevator B,at such point as, at proper times, will bring it in contact with theupper side of this arm 1.

2 seams In practice, the elevator being below the floor and the openingtherein closed by the doors D, the elevator is drawn up, by means of therope H, until the upper end of the elevatorframe strikes the lower sidesof the doors, and the further progress of the elevator in thatdirection, assisted by the counter-balance G, throws the doors into avertical position. (Shown in 1*i g. 3.) Asthe elevator passes throughthe opening the doors remain in vertical position until the floor of theelevator has passed the position occupied by the spiders m 19, when theoperation of the counter-balance Gr would have a tendency to violentlyclose the doors, were it not for the action of the wheel 8, coming incontact with the upper side of the arm a", which allows the doors toclose only as the car progresses upward, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. Inlowering the ear the wheel just referred to strikes the outer end ofsaid arm, depressing it in the downward progress of the car, and, by thedevices shown, open the doors again for its further passage. After thecar has passed through theopening the doors close by their own weight, arapid closing being prevented by the counter-balance and the under sidesof the doors coming in contact with the upper endot' the car-frame.

It will be noticed that by means of the devices hereinbet'ore described,the doors are opened slowly at first, when the speed is accelerateduntil they have reached nearly their yert-ical position, when the motiongrows slower until they have fallen into the'recess 61, 'therebyavoiding any jerking or which would have a tendency to do injury, andthedoors are closed by a reverse of the motions described; and thesemotions may be vaccelerated or diminished in speed by setting .thewheelupon the carat difi'erent points, and

slamming v lengthening or shortening the arm 1? in like proportion. i

What we claim as our invention is-'- 1.'In combination with a caroperated between ways A and slides or guides a, a hatchway-closerconsistin g of the doors D D, adapted to completely close the opening inthe floor, and arranged to stand, when open, against the inner face ofthe ways A, in recesses d therein, on each side-of the guides or slidesto, thereby allowing a free passage of the car, and avoid ing thenecessity of cutting the guides, substantially as described. t

2. In elevator-hatchway closers consisting of the doors D D, thecombination ofthe hinges F, which allow a lateral movement of saiddoors, with the cam-plates c and notches b in said doors, by means ofwhich, whenever said doors are opened or closed, such lateral movementis compelled.

3. In combination with a car or platform .oe

an elevator, the true-grooved segments m 70, with the ropes h n, andcounter-balance G, constructed, arranged, and operated substantially asand for the purposes described.

4. In combination with. an elevator caror platform, B, and a floor, (J,the devices herein described for operating the doors D, co nsisting ofthe true segments on p k, the "arm 1,

ropes h 0 n, counter-balance Gr, and the wheel 8, the parts beingconstructed and arranged to operate substantially in the manner and forthe purposes set forth:

onAnLns Ff MURDo'oK. FRANKLIN e. BEACH.

Witnesses 7 H. S. SPRAGUE, F. W. GLENDENNING.

